Live in Tokyo: Dave Cousins, Dave Lambert, John Hawken, Chas Cronk, Rod Coombes

Grave New World: Dave Cousins, Tony Hooper, Blue Weaver, John Ford, Richard Hudson.

Bonus tracks:

"Til the sun comes shining through" (from a 1970 Granada TV show - this is Rick Wakeman's television debut with the Strawbs, with Dave, Tony and Lindsay Cooper before Hud and John Ford joined the band.

News interview from 1974 with Dave Cousins talking about the single Grace Darling. The band then set sail on an RNLI lifeboat to visit the Longstone Lighthouse, home of Grace Darling.

"The Young Pretender" from the Wakeman and Cousins album filmed in Rick's studio in Wembley in May 2002 with Dave, Rick and Ric Sanders.

For more details including full track listings see the Tokyo DVD page

27 Mar 2003

WEBCAST 5 MAY

Another webcast, this time on a pay radio channel - to activate your XMRadio channel online ($9.99), go to http://www.xmradio.com/activation/activation.html or you can do it by phone at $14.99.

Awaiting timing details.

Adrian the Rock mailed Witchwood with details of his new improved website at a new address, http://www.roscalen.com. (His old webspace is still there with each page on it automatically redirecting your browser to the corresponding page on the new site. There are now "index pages" for bands such as the Strawbs whose entries on his Bands page had grown overly large - check out http://www.roscalen.com/strawbs

Adrian has photos from:

Chiswick Festival 29 Aug 98 - http://www.roscalen.com/strawbs/Chiswick980829/

Banbury 28/05/99 - http://www.roscalen.com/strawbs/Banbury990528/

Exeter 20/04/01 - http://www.roscalen.com/strawbs/Exeter010420/

Derby 08/02/02 - http://www.roscalen.com/strawbs/Derby020208/

The recent photo page of Brian and Cathryn at Solihull has *not* moved: http://www.roscalen.com/WilloughbyCraig/Solihull030307/

27 Mar 2003

WITCHWOOD MEDIA - FUTURE RELEASE PLANS

Witchwood Media has an agreement with a distributor - Morada Music, which covers the present Witchwood catalogue. Dave and Witchwood Media are looking to licence in more titles from the back catalogue from various sources, so that they can be included in that distributorship.

Dave's in discussion with Universal (for the first 2 and Nomadness) and Witchwood is also looking to re-issue other old Strawbs albums. Hopefully in all cases with bonus tracks - Dave is busily going through old tapes looking for forgotten gems.

Dave Lambert is apparently in the process of recording some solo material for release on Witchwood also.

25 Mar 2003

ACOUSTIC STRAWBS WEBCAST - 19 MAY

For those of you who can't get to see the Acoustic Strawbs on their current visit to Canada and the US, you can still get to see them via a webcast being organised by Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour in Lexington KT on 19 May at 6.45PM US time. Seats for the show are $5 and the public can call for reservations on (829) 252 8888.

Or you can watch live on the net if your internet connection's up to it. The webcast is free and all you need to do is go to: www.woodsongs.com, click on the webcast and follow instructions. It's recommended that you visit the site early to make sure you have the proper player programme installed - this is also provided free.

22 Mar 2003

STOP PRESS - CANADA/SARS TOURS UPDATE - 22 APR 03 - THE SHOW WILL GO ON

As at present advised, despite the outbreak of SARS in Toronto, the Acoustic Strawbs expect to be playing in both Toronto and London Ontario. They are very keen indeed that folks should not be disappointed and are revising their travel and accomodation plans, possibly staying outside of Toronto to minimise any risks. It is possible that the interaction with the audience after the show might be much more limited than would normally be the case - if that means fans don't get to meet them this time round, they will be back later in the year when normal meet and greet can be resumed.

The key fear was that some quarantine regulation might be imposed by the US, stopping them returning to the US for the first part of the US leg, which currently doesn't seem too likely.

Click here for reviews of the Canada/US tour.

20 Mar 2003

TOKYO/GRAVE NEW WORLD DVDS COMBINED

News just in that the two planned DVDs are likely to be issued as a single DVD. No release date as yet.

Various extras are planned for the package - :

NEW BRIAN/CATHRYN SONG RECORDED

Sue Holton tells me:

Brian and Cathryn's latest, very moving song Rumours of Rain, which is about living under the threat of bombing, and a wish for peace. We saw them play this at Hitchin last night where they shared the billing with Noel Murphy. The evening was rounded off by the three of them, completley unrehearsed playing Where Have All the Flowers Gone, to such emotional response that even Noel ( all 6ft 5 inches of him ) was in tears, and most of the audience left with a lump in their throat. Stunning stuff.

Brian was saying that they have recorded Rumours of Rain under the guise of "Folk for Peace" consisting of themselves and many of their friends from the folk music scene including Ralph McTell, Ric Sanders, Rick Kemp, Derek Brimstone, Steve Tilston and numerous other people from Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention and the like ( sorry to all the others I've forgotten ) It is still in the recording / production stage at the moment, so I don't know when it will be available, but it is a beautiful song and I wish them every success.

20 Mar 2003

DAVE LAMBERT SOLO GIG ANNOUNCED FOR 1 JUL 03

Dave Lambert is planning to do a few solo shows, mainly when Brian and Cathryn Craig are on the road so as not to conflict with any Strawbs commitments.

Contracts have just been signed for the first show at The Forum, Fonthill Centre, The Common, Tunbridge Wells Kent. TN4 8YU on 1 July 03.

Dave will be playing a cross-section of material from his entire career, including his time with Strawbs and Fire etc. in an acoustic setting.

BLUE ANGEL AND TWO WEEKS CDs AVAILABLE FROM WITCHWOOD RECORDS NOW!

Both these CDs are available now, priced at £13.99 plus p&p.

17 Mar 2003

APRIL 15 WHITE BEAR GIG FOR ACOUSTIC STRAWBS

Acoustic Strawbs are playing a warm up gig for the Can/US tour at the White Bear in Hounslow on Tues 15 April - the only gig until the re-arranged dates in June.

Guests are:
* Marian Segal of the group Jade
* Travis T Merle, an alternative country music singer, who the guys met at the Edinburgh Festival in 2001.

Tickets from the White Bear, Kingsley Road, Hounslow - tel: 020 8569 5305. Starts at 8pm. Nearest tube is Hounslow East (Piccadilly line).

Click on the picture to see the poster and click here for a map.

HIGH SOCIETY MOTHER'S DAY GIG - 30 MAR 03

poster image removed

High Society (Hud, Terry, Nigel Portman Smith and Simon Bishop) are playing again at the Red Lion in Isleworth - this time a Mothers' Day special concert on Sunday 30 March. The Red Lion is at: The Red Lion, 92-94 Linkfield Road, Isleworth, TW7 6QJ. Tel 0208 560 1457. As before the gig is free to stand and watch - or you can book a table (a very limited number) and enjoy a meal for a tenner. Contact the venue for details.

Click here for a map.

Also advance warning of a future gig on 5 July in Barnet, north London. Details to follow.

18 Jan 2003

BLUE ANGEL CD RELEASE EXPECTED APRIL 2003

The Dave Cousins and Brian Willoughby album The Bridge has long been unavailable, and highly sought after by Strawbs collectors. Blue Angel , expected April 2003, will see most of the Bridge tracks re-issued in extensively remixed and enhanced form, along with some interesting surprises.

The main attraction is, at last, a band version of Cousins' epic "Blue Angel". In addition there is a new version of "Lay Down" guest-starring Mary Hopkin, a band version of "There Will Come The Day" with both Mary AND Cathryn Craig, as well as Chas Cronk, Terry Cassidy and Hud on backing vocals, a duo version of "Sealed With A Traitor's Kiss" with Dave on piano, Brian on guitar and a remixed version of "The King" with Maddy Prior.

Dave Lambert and Rod Coombes add their talents to "Heat Of The Street" (now retitled "Rhythm Of The Night") - and "Oh So Sleepy" (first recorded for the Deep Cuts album) - these are therefore the first Strawbs studio tracks (a) to feature both Willoughby and Lambert on guitars and (b) to reunite the Hero and Heroine band apart from John Hawken.

Missing in action from the Bridge, however, is the excellent "You Never Needed Water" (a shame)and the Cousins/Hooper anthem to Alex Campbell "Song For Alex". Ah well, you can't have everything.

For full track listing and details see the Blue Angel album page. The dog by the way is Dave and Geraldine's dog, who died last year.

TWO WEEKS LAST SUMMER MAY COME OUT ON CD

Distinct possibility that Two Weeks will be released on CD in the near future. May only be a limited edition. Further news to come.

LONNIE DONEGAN DIES, AGED 71

Lonnie died on Sunday 3 November, whilst on tour - a real old stager. He had had heart trouble, and he apparently felt unwell after performing in Nottingham. He died in Peterborough at a friend's house. He was a major influence on many musicians, many of whom might not have got started but for his pioneering development of skiffle.

Photo from http://www.scorpio42.freeserve.co.uk/

Dave Cousins writes:

I am deeply saddened by the death of Lonnie Donegan. As you are aware he was my greatest influence. Tony Hooper and I went to see him in Chiswick Empire. We modelled our singing on his. We became the Gin Bottle Four, for about a week, and came second in a skiffle contest singing St James Infirmary Blues. Leadbelly, Woody Guthrie - these led me onto Muddy Waters and Howling Wolf. Eventually we found Jack Elliott and learned to pick guitars. Without Lonnie none of this would have been possible.

The songs he sung were my inspiration - I will never forget the day when he invited me into his home and showed me the tapes that he had collected that formed the basis of his catalogue. He actually came to the White Bear and played with us - if ony I had had a tape machine!!! He recorded one of my songs - not well known, but true - How I was made up.

After seeing him in Middlesbrough in his cabaret period, I bumped into him at the Nashville Rooms in Hammersmith. After being a pain-in -the arse member of the audience, requesting the old songs, he invited me on stage. Nothing has ever surpassed that thrill - his high trill and me harmonising.

Recently, Rick invited me to join him onstage for a song at a charity event in Surrey. I was absolutely flattered that Lonnie remembered me, and allowed me to play his King of Skiffle Martin guitar backstage. It is the best guitar I have ever played. That night his onstage perfomance was as exhilerating as ever, if not as good as I have ever seen him. I had arranged to send him some songs, but it is never to be.

Lonnie Donegan was as important to British rock music as the Beatles and the Stones, who would never have been otherwise without him. I am proud to have known him, to know that he knew me, and that he understood what his music meant to me. God bless him!

And John Ford adds:

I was just reading the sad news about Lonnie Donegan's death. No one was or still is a greater fan of Lonnie Donegan than I am. I just ran into my studio and played his last album with Van Morrison. I thought he was singing as good as ever.

When Dave and Brian told me about the times they had played with him, Hud as well, I thought how much I would have loved to have told him how much of an influence he had on my acoustic playing when I was a kid. In fact Part of the Union is very Donegan in the chorus. I remember grilling Brian and Hud on more than one occasion on what he was like to work with.

I just regret that I never saw him perform live. I can never get tired of hearing "Lost John" or "Bring a Little Water Sylvie" which sounded like there were about a dozen acoustics in the band topped with his amazing voice.

And Brian Willoughby has the last word:

I was six when I first became aware of "skiffle". My elder cousins Billy and Ross played tea-chest bass and guitar and their version of Lonnie Donnegan's "It Takes A Worried Man" inspired my love of music. It was the first song I learnt on the guitar, eight years later. I have always hailed Lonnie as a major influence and it was a great thrill to meet him, when I toured Australia with Mary Hopkin, in 1972. We met again in The Half Moon in Putney, when his band included two close friends of mine, the drummer Chris Hunt and the now sadly deceased bass player, Ian Sorbie.

Hud, Chris Parren, Rod Demick and I formed the band "Turkey Leg Johnson" in the 80s and we played the London Rock Club circuit. One of our regular haunts was The Jolly Gardeners, in Mortlake, not far from Lonnie Donnegan's Brentford Dock home. Lonnie came to see us and one of the highlights of my career was having him "sit in" with us, playing songs like "Cumberland Gap" and my all-time favourite, "Worried Man".

Lonnie took my number that night, asking if I would be interested in joining his band! He called me the next day and left a message. I kept the message from my answer-machine and still have it in my collection. Unfortunately, I was unable to take him up on his offer, but it remains the greatest compliment I have received.

I am sad at the news of his death, but he had fought ill-health all his life. His influence on me and fellow musicians is immeasurable.

29 November 2002

DAVE COUSINS INJURED

I have just heard that Dave Cousins has had a serious fall whilst staying in France. He has fractured his pelvis and broken his leg. He will be in traction for 10 days and then on flat on his back for a minimum of 3 weeks.

It is almost certain that the first three gigs of the Jan/Feb UK tour (10, 11, 12 Jan) will be cancelled. There was to have been a warm-up gig at the Swan in Isleworth also, and that will also go. Obviously that decision will not be taken lightly, but I know without asking that all the fans, despite their disappointment at not seeing the boys as expected, would not wish Dave to take any risks which might endanger his full recovery.

I will be speaking to Geraldine in due course and when I do I'll post news, but I've already passed on the best wishes of all Witchwood members, StrawbsWebNews recipients and Strawbs fans everywhere.

Yet another compilation, due for release 9 Sept 2002, this time in Universal's widely-respected Introduction to ... series. Price details to follow.

A fairly intelligent selection of tracks, trying to cover each of the A&M albums and no more - the crossover tracks with Collection are asterisked. Cousins tracks only (apart from Hud and John's contribution to the title track), mark you, missing out "Part Of The Union", which might be seen as a bit odd for this sort of compilation. It'll be a nice start though with "New World", for me the archetypal "defining" Strawbs track, and it features a number of the epic longer Strawbs numbers - "Where Is This Dream" (presumably the Wakeman rock version) and "Ghosts" - which perhaps give a better flavour than the shorter songs of Strawbs' classic period. Nice also to see "So Shall Our Love Die", till now one of the unreleased tracks from Nomadness - only three to go chaps and then we'll have the set, one way or another ......

But, did we need another sampler, coinciding exactly with the release date of Wakeman & Cousins: Hummingbird ? Probably not ....

Track listing

1. New World (Cousins)

2. I Turned My Face Into The Wind (Cousins)*

3. Oh, How She Changed (Cousins)*

4. Witchwood (Cousins)*

5. Where Is This Dream Of Our Youth? (Cousins)

6. Grace Darling (Cousins)*

7. Queen Of Dreams (Cousins)

8. Round And Round (Cousins)

9. So Shall Our Love Die? (Cousins)

10. Lay Down (single version) (Cousins)

11. Down By The Sea (Cousins)

12. Ghosts (Cousins)

13. Hero And Heroine (Cousins)

7 August 2002

"Turn! Turn! Turn!: The '60s Folk-Rock Revolution," written by Richie Unterberger, has just been published by Backbeat Books. This 300-page book ($19.95) is the first volume of the first comprehensive history of one of the greatest movements in rock music, drawing on first-hand interviews with more than 100 musicians, producers, managers, and journalists (see full list at the end of this message). An epic history of the entire style as it evolved throughout the 1960s, this first volume follows folk-rock's growth chronologically from the streets of Greenwich Village at the dawn of the decade and the electrification of folk music by the Byrds, Bob Dylan, and others through mid-1966, when the Byrds were taking folk-rock into psychedelia and Bob Dylan dramatically vanished from the public eye following his motorcycle accident. The innovations of the giants and the contributions of lesser-known heroes are thoroughly detailed, as well as the labels, producers, session musicians, managers, and fans that helped made the music happen. The sequel to "Turn! Turn! Turn!," "Eight Miles High," will cover folk-rock from mid-1966 through 1970, and will be published by Backbeat in 2003.

The merging of folk, rock, and the changing social climate led to a musical and cultural revolution that was the most exciting in twentieth century popular music. This is its definitive story, weaving together lively description, critical analysis, and stories from the people who made it happen, including photos and a critical discography.

Richie Unterberger is the author of the acclaimed "Unknown Legends of Rock'n'Roll" (Backbeat Books, 1998) and "Urban Spacemen & Wayfaring Strangers: Overlooked Innovators & Eccentric Visionaries of '60s Rock" (Backbeat Books, 2000), both of which contained in-depth profiles of the most interesting overlooked cult rock artists of all time, in all cases including first-hand interview material with the artists themselves and/or their close associates.

The list of people interviewed for "Turn! Turn! Turn!" and "Eight Miles High" is astonishingly long and detailed and includes our very own Dave Cousins .....

For additional information regarding "Turn! Turn! Turn!: The '60s Folk-Rock Revolution" email Richie at richie@richieunterberger.com. You can also visit his website at www.richieunterberger.com, to view complete transcripts of his interviews with folk-rock and cult rock musicians from the past few years; sample excerpts of chapters from his books; links to other websites of interest to folk-rock, cult rock and '60s rock enthusiasts; and updates on his current and future projects. NB. Not easy to find - check out the Site Map and, as yet the Cousins interview transcript isn't up there.

5 August 2002

12 August - ANDRARA S. ROCCO (Bergamo)/Piazzale della Chiesa ("Note d'arte" festival)

Sorry for the short notice - I only got this information late last week. I don't have any further details, I'm afraid. If any Italian fans can supply them, please let me know.

REFORMED HIGH SOCIETY GIG IN SEPTEMBER

News just in of the first public gig of the reformed High Society (Hud, Terence Cooke, Simon Bishop and Nigel Portman-Smith) on Sunday 8 Sep 2002 at The Red Lion in Isleworth, West London. For details see the flyer and Red Lion details below. Highly recommended - very different to Strawbs!

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22 July 2002

---

Another rumour running on the Witchwood Records site is that Cousins, Wakeman and veteran skiffle star Lonnie Donegan may record together! Not as far fetched as it sounds - they recently played on the same charity bill, and Cousins has always cited Donegan as one of his major influences.....

Does your Witchwood lose its flavour on the bedpost overnight ?

WITCHWOOD DISCUSSION GROUP - TWO YEARS YOUNG

Witchwood Discussion Group celebrated its 2nd anniversary on 10 July

6 July 2002

Another appearance just announced at Delaney's, Saturday 20 July

Some more dates at East Point Inn in East Rockaway, NY, again a mix of solo performances and shows accompanied by his band - two distinctly different sounds.

29 May 2002

WAKEMAN/COUSINS - HUMMINGBIRD LATEST

New Hummingbird page added for the forthcoming album, now features preview by Tony Attwood of Witchwood Records and probable track listing. Some recognisable Strawbs songs there: "So Shall Our Love Die", "October To May", "Stone Cold Is The Woman's Heart", "Forever Ocean Blue" and it looks like Dave's got his banjo out for the traditional "Higher Germanie", which he used to do as a solo spot in the set back in 1972 rock festivals.

You can get the CD direct from Chas £10 plus p&p (U.K. £1.50; Europe £2; U.S.A. £2.50)
Contact Chas by e-mail at cronk@blueyonder.co.uk

TIE SALAD DRUMMER DIES

Bennett Wolf e-mailed me earlier in the year to note that jazz drummer Ronnie Verrell who played on the first Strawbs (Tie Salad) album had died at the age of 76. He also played for Tom Jones and - not manypeople know this - was the actual drummer used on the Muppet TV show for Animal's drum parts.

PHOTO SITE

Les Cotton has just updated his page of photos at -

http://home.clara.net/norden/strawbs/

Some not published before, some just made neater, and a pic of DL's guitar pedals for completists and guitar anoraks.....

CABBAGE PATCH, TWICKENHAM WEBSITE

The Cabbage Patch, in Twickenham which hosted the very first Acoustic Strawbs gig, also a regular stop-off for Cathryn and Brian, now has it's own website, and very nice too.

Check out www.twickenhamfolkclub.moonfruit.com

22 May 2002

No tickets are available in advance for the Princetown gig. Doors open about 7.00. Support band. The gig has been organised by long time Strawbs fan and associate Steve Parker. For some info on the pub, see this page.

In case it needs saying, you CAN'T come to the Dartmoor gig unless you're already there ....

FURTHER UPDATE ON THE WAKEMAN/COUSINS PROJECT - HUMMINGBIRD

Recording of the new Rick Wakeman / Dave Cousins album "Hummingbird" is now complete. Mixing is under way, and release is scheduled for July 2002.. Rick Wakeman talks about Hummingbird, the new album created with Dave Cousins - questions put by Steve Young and reprinted by permission of the Witchwood Records site:

Tell me about Dave Cousins and yourself

RICK: Dave and I have remained friends now for 34 years and have often talked about doing something specific together but both always felt that the right time would present itself to us naturally, and that has proven to be correct with Hummingbird.

How does Hummingbird relate to your earlier work?

RICK: A lot of the music is acoustically orientated and Dave and I have certainly "gone back" in order to collect some styles from the past and have brought them into the 21st century to use in considerably different ways. Certainly I have not been part of another album like this one. It has a multitude of variations in style but somehow all knits together as one collective musical journey It is the combining of two musical minds and the inner musical dreams of Dave and myself.

It is not an attempt to recreate the past nor for that matter is it a band album. A band album is when all the musicians who are involved are part of the music from it's conception right through to it's birth and therefore have an influence throughout the making of the album. This album is music composed by Dave and myself, arranged and produced by Dave and myself and which incorporates some very fine musicians that we both admire, enjoy working with and that we knew could bring exactly the musical colouring we had in mind, to selected tracks. Both Chas Cronk and Tony Fernandez play excellently on a couple of tracks and Ric Sanders brought his unique style to three tracks as only he is able.

But this isn't a Strawbs album. To my mind Strawbs already have an excellent profile which continues to gain new friends all over the world on a daily basis. If this album helps to attract new listeners to Strawbs music and that of mine, Dave's and Yes as well for that matter , then that is a bonus for us all. We are not trying to create an early Strawbs sound and if that is what had been suggested at the outset, then this album would not have been made. It's quite simple really. Dave and I are very close friends who also happen to have a great mutual musical respect for each other. The time felt right for us to do an album together and after just one afternoon around Dave's house running through some ideas, we knew instantly that we could produce something both a bit different and a bit special ...........and not a Strawbs album.

Strawbs has seen many metamorphisms in its long and distinguished life and I'm sure will see many more. Fans will always hold certain periods of Strawbs music more closely to their hearts than others and this is one of the joys of a band that has survived successfully for many years.

Do you have any further plans for working with Dave?

RICK: I am likely to be touring pretty solidly with Yes for at least the next year and a half plus I have commitments with my own band, television and visual and audio recordings. But the chances of Dave and I doing the odd "one-off" here and there are i think, pretty good. We both enjoy playing and I think it will be interesting to see how this collaborative album is received. As far as I'm concerned, this is a rather special album for more than just it's very strong musical reasons.

If there were to be the odd one off concert here and there, and I hope this will be the case in-between both our busy schedules, then as far as my thinking is, it would not be as suggested above. Too obvious and predictable. I have a view on how any such shows could be and I'm sure Dave has too. If we can reach a meeting of minds in the same way that we have done with this new album, then I think any such shows could be a pleasurable musical experience for all concerned.

It's becoming an interesting year for me. The first studio album with my band the English Rock Ensemble since the late seventies, an album with Dave and a return to Yes. Perhaps 2002 is meant to be the year of my spiritual homecoming."

8 May 2002

NEWS ON DAVE COUSINS/RICK WAKEMAN PROJECT

Bjørn Nilsen conducted the following e-mail interview with Rick Wakeman about the project that he and Dave Cousins have been working on:

Bjørn: Hi Rick.

RICK: HI BJØRN

Loved your music for many years and have a few of yours and Yes albums.

THANKS VERY MUCH

But Strawbs is the music that is close to my heart,

NICE BAND

and I wonder if you will do something with them again?

DAVE COUSINS AND I ARE GREAT FRIENDS AND ARE IN FACT CURRENTLY IN THE STUDIO PRODUCING AN ALBUM OF MOSTLY ACOUSTIC SOUNDING MUSIC AND SONGS . IT SHOULD BE RELEASED SOMETIME IN JULY .

But yours and Cousins' style are very different so that might not be easy to do.

IF YOU LISTEN TO ANTIQUES AND CURIOS AND FROM THE WITCHWOOD THEN YOU'LL NOTE THAT OUR STYLES DO MATCH IN THESE AREAS , WHICH IS THE STYLE WE ARE WORKING ON WITH THIS ALBUM .

But that would relly give StrawbS a good push in the light of new fame if you did. Have a nicetime with Yes.

THANKS

==

Dave Cousins commented to me:

I HAVE BEEN RECORDING IN THE STUDIO WITH RICK FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS. RICK HE AND I ARE REALLY ENJOYING WHAT WE ARE DOING. IT SOUNDS WONDERFUL AND IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT TO ACOUSTIC STRAWBS.

THERE'S A LOT OF NEW SONGS, WE'VE BEEN WRITING A LOT IN THE STUDIO. PLAYING WITH RICK IS GREAT, BUT WE DON'T STOP TALKING!

Chas Cronk and Tony Fernandez will be coming in to work on a few tracks and Ric Sanders of Fairport will also make an appearance.

Dave says:

I'VE NEVER HEARD PLAYING LIKE IT. ONE TRACK FEATURES PIANO AND BANJO, BUT IT'S NOTHING LIKE YOU'VE EVER HEARD …

More to follow when I have it.

7 May 2002

CHISWICK DVD DUE MAY 2002

At long last the Chiswick DVD will be released on 20 May, available from http://www.witchwoodrecords.co.uk. Click on the picture above for a larger more detailed version of this extremely attractive cover design by Rod Green.

The DVD includes a bonus track - "Blue Angel" - which was not included on the CD and two bonus features: "One Summer's Day", Dave Cousins talking about the 30th anniversary concert, and "Tokyo '75", a preview of the next releases from Witchwood, a show recorded for TV during Strawbs' 18975 visit to Japan.

Price: All orders taken before 20 May £17.99, £19.99 thereafter. Post & packing details on the Witchwood Records site.

To encourage people to order the DVD in advance Witchwood Records are offering two things on the web site:
(a) A discount on all orders placed before the release date
(b) An automatic entry for everyone who places an order before the release date into a prize draw - the prize being 2 tickets to the full screen premiere of the showing of the DVD at Pinewood Studios on 11 June at 6.30pm. This is likely to be the only full screen showing of the DVD.

ACOUSTIC STRAWBS SINGLE RELEASE

Venue: The White Bear
Kingsley Road
Hounslow

Phone: 020 8569 5305
Fax : 020 8737 8654

Doors open at 7.30

Special guest:
Fred Wedlock (The Oldest Swinger in Town)

Tickets are available from the White Bear at £7 and they will hold them for you for collection on the day of the show at no charge.

Tickets also available from Witchwood Records - price £7.00 plus £1.50 admin charge.

The DVD will be available that night.

For full details of tour dates for the rest of 2002, click here.

THE COLLECTION - NEW STRAWBS COMPILATION ALBUM DUE MAY 2002

A brand new CD compilation is due for release 6 May 2002 on Universal's budget label Spectrum (Catalogue Number: 5447062), costing only £6.99. Track listing is:

1. Part Of The Union (Ford/Hudson)

2. I'll Carry On Beside You (Cousins)

3. The Man Who Called Himself Jesus (Cousins)

4. Oh How She Changed (Cousins/Hooper)

5. I Turned My Face Into The Wind (Cousins)

6. Song Of A Sad Little Girl (Cousins)

7. Witchwood (Cousins)

8. Benedictus (Cousins)

9. Heavy Disguise (Ford)

10. Keep The Devil Outside (Ford)

11. Shine On Silver Sun (Cousins)

12. Grace Darling (Cousins)

13. Lemon Pie (Cousins)

14. Martin Luther King's Dream (Cousins)

15. Tokyo Rosie (Cousins)

16. Will Ye Go (McPeake)

17. I Only Want My Love To Grow In You (Cousins)

18. Lay Down (Cousins)

JOHN FORD CD "NATURAL HIGH" NOW AVAILABLE

A third and thoroughly enjoyable CD from John now available from John via his website www.johnfordmusic.net. John captures perfectly the mood of post-September 11 United States, the country he has now made his home. Full review to follow.

CATHRYN CRAIG & BRIAN WILLOUGHBY CD "I WILL" NOW AVAILABLE

Anyone who caught Cathryn and Brian on their lengthy jaunt around the country in Feb-April this year will know most of the material on this excellent CD. A full review coming shortly. Meanwhile it can be bought off their joint website at www.brianwilloughby.com

WAKEMAN REJOINS YES

Now confirmed that Rick has rejoined Yes again for their August tour. Dave Cousins is still hoping to get to record some stuff with him nonetheless.

31 Jan 2002

Ceilidh/dance band Pitchfork (which features Tony Hooper on guitar) now have a website at http://www.pitchforkband.co.uk. If you want to hear what they sound like, go to http://www.pitchfork.fsnet.co.uk/html/free_audio_clips.html for some free MP3 downloads.

14 Jan 2002

Baroque and Roll T-shirts now available from Witchwood Records website at http://www.witchwoodrecords.co.uk .

Order:
By phone with credit card - 01536 399 005 (+44 1536 399 005) 9am to 5pm UK time.
By fax with credit card - 01536 399 012 (+44 1536 399 012)
By post with cheque in UK £, US $ or Canadian $ - Witchwood Records, Hamilton House, Earlstrees Rd., Corby, Northants NN17 4HH, United Kingdom.

28 Nov 2001

Check it out at www.cathryncraig.com.

16 Nov 2001

A new feature on Witchwood Records website http://www.witchwoodrecords.co.uk/: Dave Cousins discusses the writing of the classic Strawbs track "A Glimpse Of Heaven". The comments by Dave are taken from conversations between him and Tony Attwood who runs the site. By arrangement with Witchwood, they'll also be posted on the Strawsweb site in due course. More to come.

SAMPLES OF NEW JOHN FORD ALBUM ONLINE

You can check out sample cuts from John's next CD on his website at http://www.johnfordmusic.net. . There's one on it now, and they'll be added at the rate of one a week, so that if all proceeds on schedule, John will have the album finished about the time when they're all up. No final decision as to its name [but hopefully, like the last two, it'll have "High" in the title ;-) - DG].

COTTAGE VIEWS

Check out Michael Cimino's website for lots of photos of the Strawbs at their concert in NY's Bottom Line Club on 6 Dec 1984 http://www.cottageviews.com/strawbs.htm. Michael has also done interviews with Dave Cousins, Dave Lambert and John Ford, which he'll be posting on his site in due course.

8 Nov 2001

CHISWICK DVD IN PRODUCTION

Dave Cousins is spending part of this week at Pinewood Studios putting together the DVD video version of the 1998 Chiswick released on CD by Witchwood Records as "The Complete Strawbs". No confirmed release date yet, but it should certainly be available for the acoustic tour early next year.

BEAR RELIEF - TEDDY BEAR AUCTION TO BENEFIT CHILDREN AFTER EVENTS OF 11 SEPTEMBER

Bear Relief comprises 261 Teddy Bear Artists, Teddy Bear Shops and Enthusiasts from around the world (including Lynne Madeley, whose husband Peter is a stalwart of the Strawbs Witchwood Discussion Group). They have donated a Teddy Bear or other creature for an Internet Auction, with the sole purpose of trying to raise money for the children whose lives have been devastated by the loss, injury or trauma of family in the recent tragic events in the United States. All money from the sale of the Bears and creatures will go to the National Disaster Relief Fund of the American Red Cross. The Auction is already taking place on the eBay "Auction for America" pages: www.ebay.com and started on November 6th, 2001, for 7 days only. This will be a one-of-a kind event.

You can check out pictures of the bears at: http://www.balfourbears.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/intro2.htm

STRAWBS AND RICK WAKEMAN LIVE ON DVD

Meanwhile, the 1990 Central TV/"Bedrock" concerts by the Strawbs (previously released on video as "Greatest Hits Live") and Rick Wakeman are being made available on DVD as part of the Classic Rock Legends series, along with other live shows from that era, including Steeleye Span, Wishbone Ash, Caravan, Hawkwind and Asia.

Their website http://www.classic-rocklegends.com was displaying a cover shot, but it seems to have been taken off.

Their address is:
11 Central Chambers, Cooks Alley,
Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire,
England CV37 6QN

www.cdnow.com were advertising a Region 1 (US only) version at $17.49, with an expected release date on 20 November.

FOLKING ROCK

There are reviews of the latest Strawbs releases at: http://www.folking.com/, written by Pete Fyfe, they'll also be posted on StrawbsWeb soon. Thanks Pete.

REMEMBER JONATHAN KELLY .... ??